A road map between Baghdad and Erbil to manage the Kurdistan border outlets

[horsesoldier]

No doubt gains are being made: however, stressing that something needs to be done after all these years would go further if that something WERE actually being done. 

Corruption will be a major road block for many years to come.

[6ly410]

 

[6ly410]

SAIROON MP CRITICIZES BUDGET AND CUSTOMS DEAL BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND ERBIL

Sairoon lawmaker Alaa al-Rubaie speaks to NRT Arabic during a televised program (Photo Credit: NRT Arabic/File)

4 minutes ago

https://www.nrttv.com/en/News.aspx?id=23271&MapID=2

 

SULAIMANI — A Sairoon lawmaker has called on the federal government to provide additional information about the recently-arranged budget and customs agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

In a statement released on Monday (August 17), Alaa al-Rubaie questioned the legal basis of the deal, which will see Baghdad send 320 billion ($268.2 million) each of the next three months, in return for the KRG bringing its customs procedures into line with the rest of Iraq’s.

Arguing that the federal government’s own economic and budgetary problems should have prevented Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government from sending any money to Erbil, he also said that the KRG had “committed many failures and disavowed all previous agreements” that it had concluded with previous federal administrations.

“Sending money to the Region is a dangerous matter in light of the current financial crisis and the existence of many challenges facing Baghdad at this current stage. It would have been better for al-Kadhimi’s government to address the previous mistakes and not go committing the same mistakes again,” he said.

The Sadrist lawmaker said that he expected there to be a negative response to the deal from the Iraqi people, especially in the oil-rich but deprived southern provinces, and that his party would work in the Council of Representatives and through the judiciary to challenge it.

Also on Monday, the federal Ministry of Finance said that the cash transfers had been requested by the KRG in response to deteriorating economic conditions and its difficulties in paying public sector workers.

(NRT Digital Media)

[yota691]

Customs of Kurdistan denies receiving a copy of any agreement between Baghdad and Erbil related to the ports

 

Policy 2020/08/20 13:01 230 Editor: ht Baghdad today -

Kurdistan The Director General of the Kurdistan Customs Authority, Samal Abdul Rahman, confirmed, on Thursday (August 20, 2020), that his directorate has not yet received a copy of the contents of the recent agreement between Baghdad and Erbil regarding the management of border crossings. In an interview with (Baghdad Today), Abdul Rahman said, "The Iraqi joint operations declaration regarding the deployment of military points at the border crossings of the Kurdistan region has no knowledge of it until now." He added, "The directorate will abide by all the decisions issued by the regional government regarding the management of border crossings, whether by publishing detachments and military points or other measures," indicating that "commitment to decisions must be subject to the content of the agreement between Baghdad and Erbil." And Abdel-Rahman continued, "The border crossings in the Kurdistan region are now managed in the same way, and they are under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance of the regional government, but they apply all the instructions of the federal government regarding preventing the import and entry of some specific goods." And the Minister of the Kurdistan Region for Negotiation Affairs with Baghdad, Khaled Shawani, announced on Sunday (August 16, 2020), that an agreement between Baghdad and Erbil will be reached until the 2021 budget is approved, and includes financial dues, outlets and a set of pending files. Shwani said in a statement, that after a series of visits by the delegation of the Kurdistan region, headed by Qubad Talabani, with the aim of obtaining financial dues for the Kurdistan region and the salaries of employees, and after a number of meetings, and changing the proposals and notes for 12 times, the agreement was announced between the two parties. He added, "The negotiations witnessed a lot of ebb and flow, and the process was difficult and complicated, and our efforts were seeking to secure the financial rights of the region’s employees and protect the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan region. The agreement will be in effect until the 2021 budget law is approved, starting a new phase of negotiations on the 2021 budget." He explained that the agreement includes sending 320 billion dinars per month to the Kurdistan region, and it deals with a set of other files such as monitoring, auditing, a mechanism for handling many financial and economic files, and a mechanism for dealing with the revenues of border crossings under the Federal Financial Management Law No. 6 of 2019.

[yota691]

Finance: The government is in the process of implementing customs automation and simplifying procedures

Economie

2020-08-23 | 12:14

 

 

2,892 views

The Ministry of Finance confirmed, on Sunday, that the government is proceeding with a program of automating customs and simplifying procedures.
 

"The government and the ministry continue to implement automation and simplify procedures in customs," the ministry said in a statement, which Alsumaria News received, noting that "these procedures are included in the white paper prepared by the government."

"The automation procedures and the selection of companies are carried out in a transparent manner," the ministry added, noting, "We will not issue any tender in this area without full transparency."

[yota691]

Iraqi Finance confirms to proceed with a plan to automate customs transactions and procedures

Flag of the Iraqi Republic - Archives

 23 August 2020 10:07 PM

Mubasher: The Iraqi Ministry of Finance confirmed today, Sunday, that it will implement automation and simplify customs procedures as part of the government's program to reform the economy and diversify revenues.

In a statement, the ministry stated, "Some media outlets and social media sites have transmitted misleading information about (automating customs) with strange news that contradicts the facts and deliberately offends the ministry and its work. The news aims to mislead the Iraqi public opinion and confuse papers for political goals and media misconduct." 

The Iraqi Finance added, "The ministry deals with professionalism and transparency and in accordance with the law and would like to inform the public opinion of the facts, not by launching arbitrary charges, far from reality." 

He pointed out that "the government and the Ministry of Finance continue to implement automation and simplify procedures in the ministry as part of the government's program to reform the economy and diversify revenues, including the application of automation and the simplification of procedures in customs." 

She noted that "the measures come within the white paper prepared by the government, which includes economic, financial and administrative reforms, plans and strategies to meet the challenges facing the country." 

The ministry affirmed that "the automation procedures and the selection of companies are carried out in a transparent manner, in accordance with the laws and instructions, and in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry also in continuous dialogue with the World Bank and with sister Arab countries to benefit from their successful experience in customs automation." 

And the Iraqi Finance continued in its statement that it will not issue any tender in this area without full transparency and preparation of a fair atmosphere and space for all. Therefore, we ask the fair Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council to take all legal measures against anyone who misleads facts and throws false accusations and tries through that. Defamation of everyone who does transparent, clear and careful work through his workplace. " 

The ministry affirmed its respect and appreciation for the supervisory authority of the media and freedom of expression and opinion, and at the same time it warns everyone who manipulates facts and misleads public opinion, and reserves the right to sue everyone who falsifies the truth.

[Flamtap]

The ministry affirmed its respect and appreciation for the supervisory authority of the media and freedom of expression and opinion, and at the same time it warns everyone who manipulates facts and misleads public opinion, and reserves the right to sue everyone who falsifies the truth.

 

They have CNN too? 

[yota691]

23-08-2020 07:19 PM

Finance: The government and the ministry are continuing to implement automation and simplify procedures

 

 

Baghdad / Al-Akhbariya

On Sunday, the Ministry of Finance responded to what it called shady information about (automating customs) with strange news that contradicts the facts and deliberately offends the ministry.

In a statement that Al-Akhbariya received a copy of, the ministry said, "Some media outlets and social networking sites have transmitted misleading information about (automating customs) with strange news that contradicts the facts and deliberately offends the ministry and its work.

She stated, "As we deal with professionalism, transparency and in accordance with the law, we want to inform the public opinion of the facts, and not openly launching accusations, far from the reality that the government and the Ministry of Finance are continuing to implement automation and simplify procedures in the ministry as part of the government's program in reforming the economy and diversifying revenues, including the application of automation and simplification of procedures in customs." .

She indicated that these measures come within the white paper prepared by the government, which includes economic, financial and administrative reforms, plans and strategies to face the challenges facing the country.

The ministry affirmed that "the automation procedures and the selection of companies are carried out in a transparent manner, in accordance with the laws and instructions, and in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. The Ministry is also in continuous dialogue with the World Bank and with brotherly Arab countries to benefit from its successful experience in automating customs. In addition, the Ministry of Finance will not present any Bidding in this field without complete transparency and preparing an equitable atmosphere and space for all. Therefore, we ask the just Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council to take all legal measures against everyone who misleads facts and casts false accusations and tries through this to discredit everyone who does transparent, clear and careful work During his work site.

She added, "In this regard, this ministry wishes to express its respect and appreciation for the supervisory authority of the media and freedom of expression and opinion, and at the same time it warns everyone who manipulates facts and misleads public opinion, and reserves the right to prosecute anyone who falsifies the truth." 

[yota691]

Customs: We achieved 3.4 billion and 3 billion revenue on Sunday

Written by: saadat: August 24, 2020

Al-Noor News / Baghdad
The General Authority of Customs revealed its total revenues, which were achieved yesterday, Sunday, in its customs centers, which amounted to more than 3 billion and 400 million dinars.

The authority said in a statement that "Al-Nour News" received a copy of it, that "in light of the difficult economic and health conditions that pass through our dear country, its cadres working in all directorates and customs centers continue to actively contribute to standing up to help their people and their homeland, united all challenges and obstacles to work to advance their work and achieve the highest revenues. “.

She added, "It contributed to facilitating the entry of thousands of dispatches of medicines, medical supplies and foodstuffs around the clock, day and night, with efforts and direct follow-up by the higher management in the authority in order to facilitate the smooth entry of missionaries into the country for basic and foodstuffs, especially human medicines to deliver them to the consumer in light of the current crisis." “.

Customs noted, "The value of revenues despite the zero customs duties on many goods and the lack of imports due to the closure of some border centers due to the Corona pandemic."

[yota691]

{The ports} expect their revenues to rise to hundreds of billions

Monday 24 August 2020 28

 

Baghdad / Farah Al-Khafaf

After the Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi's personal follow-up of the customs file and ports and ways to develop them, and the Minister of Transport announced directly the General Company for Iraqi Ports to work on establishing a unified grand welcome yard for the customs exit of Umm Qasr ports, a financial expert expected to double revenues and reach hundreds of billions of dinars. The expert, Thamer Al-Azzawi, told Al-Sabah: The file of "customs and ports is important, and if caught and well followed up, it could supply the state treasury with a good percentage of the money." 

Advanced systems

He added that "the measures that the Prime Minister followed, including sending forces to control the ports, directing the adoption of automation in customs, establishing unified yards, and adopting advanced systems, all of which would push this file forward with many steps and not one step." These procedures are left for continuous follow-up, and close monitoring without exception. ”

The Prime Minister announced during his visit to Basra Governorate the change of the security force that protects border crossings and ports, stressing the trend to apply electronic automation in all customs and tax procedures.

 

Government actions

Al-Azzawi pointed out that «the revenues of the ports of Umm Qasr, will reach hundreds of billions of dinars and may reach trillions, if the government’s procedures are strictly applied, and the Kurdistan Region’s ports are truly controlled. Exception », this is usually a condition for increasing revenues, which may reach more than 100 percent.

It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi said recently: "We have a challenge represented in the outlets. There are gangs, groups, and billions of dollars annually in losses, and a campaign will soon be launched to restore consideration to this file."

 

All ports

While Minister of Planning Khaled Al-Najm confirmed that Iraq imports goods from 130 countries, calling for all border crossings to be subjected to federal authorities.

In the same context, the Minister of Transport, Nasser Hussein Al-Shibli, announced that the General Company for Ports of Iraq will work on establishing a unified large welcome yard for the customs exit of Umm Qasr ports. 

Al-Shibli said: “The project will unify the customs clearance process in the multiple customs departments of Umm Qasr into a unified department with a unified system and one director and unified procedures, which makes all previous administrative units work according to single window systems,” indicating that “a welcome square will be established, and its completion will be In the near future, it will be allocated only to complete customs clearance transactions that integrate government agencies and institutions and the support departments working in the ports for the work of the two ports. This will give the ports absolute privacy on the berths after they are evacuated from all departments and relevant authorities.

 

Port Haram 

He explained, "The Great Welcome Square will be outside the two ports, and within the security fence (the port campus), and it will be built on an area of one and a half million square meters."

For his part, the General Director of the General Company for Iraqi Ports Farhan Al-Fartousi said in a statement that “Al-Sabah” received a copy: “This project was submitted as a draft by the ports of Iraq to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in 2018, and it was modified and sent again in 2019, As the Minister of Transport, Nasser Al-Shibli, had a clear impact on his personal follow-up to the Municipality, which culminated in its approval and approval this month.

He added that «the ports of Iraq continue to cooperate and coordinate in all areas with the supporting and working departments within the company's ports within its permanent approach.

Al-Fartousi added: “An electronic resource management (ERP) program will be used in the project, which contains all documents used by departments and employees of other ministries for tracking and accessing data and the possibility of using the programs in statistics and evaluation and fixing electronic information sources with data programs (big data) for archiving. ", And keep the original copies." 

Noting that "the project will save a lot of time and effort in completing customs transactions by making it a unified welcome yard for the customs exit of ports

Umm Qasr ".

It is noteworthy that the Council of Ministers approved, in its last regular session, headed by Al-Kazemi, the project to unify the customs exit yards of the northern ports of Umm Qasr and Umm Qasr al-Janoubi and make them a unified square under the name of the Grand Welcome Square for the ports of Umm Qasr.

[yota691]

08-25-2020 02:19 PM

More than four billion and 250 million dinars, the total customs revenue, within one day

 

 

Baghdad / Al-Akhbariya

The General Authority of Customs announced its total revenues realized on Monday in its customs centers, reaching more than four billion and 250 million dinars during yesterday.

The authority said in a statement that "despite the zero customs duties on many goods and the lack of imports due to the closure of some border centers due to the Corona pandemic, the total revenues earned yesterday in the customs centers were more than four billion two hundred and fifty million dinars."

She added, "In light of the difficult economic and health conditions that pass through our dear country, its cadres working in all directorates and customs centers continue to actively contribute to standing up to help their people and their homeland, defying all challenges and obstacles to work to improve their work and achieve the highest revenues."

She indicated that it "contributed to facilitating the entry of thousands of dispatches of medicines, medical supplies and foodstuffs around the clock, day and night, with efforts and direct follow-up by the higher management in the authority in order to facilitate the smooth flow of missionaries into the country for basic and foodstuffs, especially human medicines to deliver them to the consumer in light of the current crisis." ". 

[yota691]

In the document.. Parliamentary Finance calls on Al-Kazemi to complete the automation system for border crossings

Last updated: August 25, 2020 - 1:58 p.m.

 Baghdad / Iraq News Network - The Parliamentary Finance Committee called on Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to personally intervene to complete the system of automating procedures at border crossings, according to the document addressed to the Office of the Prime Minister, which stated, “Based on the provisions of the government program and in line with the relentless efforts. Made to increase non-oil revenues, which considers customs duties and taxes one of its basic pillars, and which we believe that its duties and control over its revenues can only be achieved by implementing a system (automating procedures) which, according to our information, has reached advanced stages of referral and contracting, hoping to instruct you and your personal intervention to accomplish these The stages and inform us with appreciation ”.

[yota691]

THE BORDER CROSSINGS AGREE ON A RECOMMENDATION STIPULATING THAT THE KURDISTAN REGION’S PORTS BE LINKED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PORTS

Wednesday, 26 August 2020 10:37 PM

 

 

 

Baghdad / National News Center -

The Border Ports Authority said that the Board of the Commission reached an agreement to link the ports of the Kurdistan Region with the outlets of the Federal Government, indicating that the members agreed on a recommendation confirming the necessity of the region’s commitment to Resolution No. (13) of 2019, which stipulated in one of its paragraphs to link the ports of the region with the outlets of the federal government

A statement of the authority, a copy of which was received by the National News Center Agency, stated that the President of the Border Ports Authority, Omar Adnan Al-Waeli, chaired the meeting of the Commission’s Council, which includes in its membership representatives of the ministries, agencies and governorates concerned with the work of border crossings, which was held via the closed television circuit.

He added that "the council’s agenda was discussed, which included several important axes to organize the work of the departments operating at the border crossings and take the necessary decisions and recommendations regarding them by voting by the members on all the paragraphs of the agenda."

The meeting discussed, according to the statement, “Diwani Order No. 83 pertaining to the creation of the Airport Protection Directorate, which was issued to start its work at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports in the Kurdistan region, which was not implemented and received the response from the regional government to activate it and the lack of the necessary cadres for it.”

The statement continued, “The members agreed on a recommendation confirming the necessity of the region’s commitment to Resolution No. (13) of 2019, which stipulated in one of its paragraphs to link the region’s ports to the federal government’s outlets and cancel the aforementioned directorate and create another directorate concerned with airport security, which it is hoped will emerge according to the committee (16). Headed by the Minister of the Interior.

The statement indicated that “the issue of the trade exchange yards at the Arar border crossing with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been discussed, which it is hoped will be opened in the few days.

He added, “The inspection companies operating in the border outlets and approved by the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control had a paragraph on the agenda, which emphasized the importance of the sobriety of these companies to ensure quality in goods and goods supplied to the local markets, as well as giving importance to protecting the citizen’s health from industrial fraud. And the commercial, and the keenness to follow up the work of the checking companies that continue their work and end the work of the contracting companies whose contract expires on the first of next September.

The Board recommended that the Border Ports Authority follow up on what has been judicially seized from forged documents and fake arrival books, which are used to pass goods with forged receipts and in the name of one of the examining companies, which were seized at the Safwan border crossing, and to emphasize the importance of electronic linking of the checking companies and their follow-up by the Central Organization for Standardization and Control. Quality to ensure business continuity, smooth trade exchange, and ease of controlling cases of tampering and forgery in inspection certificates for imported goods.

And he indicated that “it was emphasized in the meeting to implement the Prime Minister’s directive to evacuate dangerous containers from all border outlets and the need to expedite their evacuation to safe areas and the need to accomplish this with the solidarity of all members of the Council and to provide a helping hand from the governorates to the border outlets to accomplish this issue, which is one of the priorities of national security.” .

He pointed out, “Among the paragraphs of the meeting, the request of the Hajj and Umrah Authority was discussed to have a permanent presence at the Arar border crossing to supervise the pilgrims’ departure during its season. Their duties at the border crossing.

[yota691]

The ports agree on a recommendation to link the ports of the Kurdistan region with the federal ports

•  Time: 08/26/2020 22:35:58
•  
•  Read: 3,042 times

  

{Baghdad :: Al Furat News} The Board of the Commission at the border crossings agreed on a recommendation to link the Kurdistan Region ports with the federal government ports.

This came during the head of the Border Ports Authority, Major General Omar Adnan Al-Waeli, presiding over a meeting of the Commission’s board, which includes in its membership representatives of the ministries, agencies and governorates concerned with the work of the border crossings through the closed television circuit.
"The council’s agenda, which includes several important axes, was discussed in order to organize the work of the departments operating at the border crossings, and to take the necessary decisions and recommendations regarding them, by voting by members on all the paragraphs of the agenda," the statement said.
He added, "The meeting also included a discussion of the Diwaniya Order No. (83) related to the creation of the Airports Protection Directorate, which was issued to start its work at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports in the Kurdistan region, which was not implemented and received the response from the regional government to activate it and the lack of the necessary cadres for it."
The statement indicated, "The members agreed on a recommendation confirming the necessity of the region’s commitment to Resolution No. (13) of 2019, which stipulated in one of its paragraphs linking the region’s ports with the outlets of the federal government, canceling the aforementioned directorate and creating another directorate concerned with airport security, which it is hoped will emerge according to the committee.” (16) ) Headed by the Minister of the Interior. "
He added, "The issue of the trade exchange yards at the Arar border crossing with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was also discussed, which it is hoped will be opened in the next few days."
During the meeting, Al-Waeli reviewed the achievement rates achieved in the port’s work at various levels of commerce, travelers and infrastructure, which have reached advanced stages of achievement, stressing the importance of coordinating efforts between the relevant authorities to create a state of understandings to ensure good performance and smooth commercial movement at the border crossing. .
The statement pointed out that "the inspection companies operating at border crossings and approved by the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control had a paragraph on the agenda, which the meeting stressed on the importance of the sobriety of these companies to ensure quality in goods and commodities supplied to local markets, as well as giving importance to protecting the health of citizens from Industrial and commercial fraud, and the keenness to follow up the work of the inspecting companies continuing their work and to terminate the work of the contracting companies whose contract expires on the first of next September.
He continued, "The council recommended that the Border Ports Authority follow up on what has been judicially seized of forged documents and fictitious arrival books, which are used to pass goods with forged receipts and in the name of one of the examining companies that were seized at the Safwan border crossing, and to emphasize the importance of electronic linking of the checking companies and their follow-up by the Central Organization for Standardization." Quality control to ensure the continuity of work, the smooth flow of trade exchange, and the ease of controlling cases of tampering and forgery in inspection certificates for imported goods.
The statement stated, "It was also emphasized in the meeting to implement the Prime Minister’s directive to evacuate dangerous containers from all border outlets and the need to expedite their evacuation to safe areas and the necessity to accomplish this with the solidarity of all members of the Council and to provide a helping hand from the governorates to the border outlets to accomplish this issue, which is one of the priorities of national security. ".
The statement concluded by saying that "the request of the Hajj and Umrah Authority was discussed to have a permanent presence at the Arar border crossing to supervise the pilgrims in their season," announcing, "The council members agreed to work in the previous contexts by allocating temporary work places for the authority to be temporary and allocated to them during the Hajj season and evacuating it after completion. Their duties at the border crossing. "
Wafa Al-Fatlawi 

[ronscarpa]

Thanks for all these informative articles Yota ...  Blessings ... RON

[yota691]

Member of the Parliament of the Region: The problem of Kurdistan with Baghdad over oil will not be solved without issuing this law

 

551 Policy 09/02/2020 21:27 ht

Baghdad Today - Special A member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the Kurdistan Regional Parliament, Jihad Hassan, said Wednesday, September 02, 2020, that the oil export problem between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan government will not be solved without the issuance of the oil and gas law. Hassan said in an interview with (Baghdad Today), "The region is still exporting oil through its border crossings because the understanding between Baghdad and Erbil has not reached final solutions, and this matter will not happen without the oil and gas law obstructed by political parties that harm their interests." He added that "the region will be fully committed to what results from that agreement, which is expected to be signed between the two governments, while awaiting the visit of the regional government delegation in the coming days to Baghdad." On the reduction of oil in accordance with OPEC’s request, Hassan said, "The region has reduced its share of the total quota to be reduced from Iraqi exports, and is fully committed to this detail." Earlier, the Ministry of Oil confirmed, on Wednesday (2 September 2020), that the Kurdistan region is still continuing export operations without referring to the federal government, while indicating its intention to approach OPEC countries to exempt Baghdad from reducing export quantities. Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar said in a press statement, "The Kurdistan region continues to export operations without referring to the federal government." He added, "The Ministry has begun to receive the commercial and technical offers for the construction of the Basra crude oil pipeline - an obstacle with a capacity of one million barrels." It is expected that the first quarter of next year will witness the full assignment of the project so that it can be immediately followed by it. He explained that "the pipeline will extend for a distance of 1700 kilometers. The implementation will be on the Iraqi side at the expense of the ministry. On the Jordanian side, it will be in the form of investments." The minister revealed, "There are efforts to exempt Iraq from the agreement to reduce export quantities in OPEC, as all the ministers of the organization from among the major producers have been approached in three successive meetings to exempt him during the first quarter of 2021 to request assistance, but the ministry will commit to reducing during the next three months."

[yota691]

The European Union provides "strategic" advice to develop border crossings

Thursday 03 September 2020 116

 

Baghdad: Morning

 

The European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq has expressed its real desire to provide assistance to develop the performance of workers at border crossings by providing strategic advice at the highest levels, training and support in cooperation with partners from organizations and bodies

International.

A statement by the head of the Border Ports Authority, Omar Adnan Al-Waeli, during his meeting with the delegation of the mission, yesterday, Wednesday, stated that maintaining border security is of the utmost necessity and we strive to create a state of complementarity in performance, stressing the importance of communication and joint cooperation between the authority and the mission in several areas, the most important of which are; Helping to develop human resources working at border crossings by placing them in specialized and advanced training courses that keep pace with scientific development.